There's a long history of comics in the classroom and the development of comics for and in learning have been found to be

motivating, visual, intermediary and popular (see http://www.humblecomics.com/comicsedu/strengths.html).



The Comic Life Process:Dd.jpg


  1. Decide on an idea

  2. Get your pictures

  3. Open Comic Life

  4. File: Save As (Give it a clear file name)

  5. Click & drag over a Page Template

  6. Add pictures to the Panels

  7. Size the pictures and panels with the “handles”

  8. Save every 5 or 10 minutes

  9. Choose a Page Style

  10. Add Comic Lettering

  11. Drag and position the Speech bubbles

  12. Add dialog, narrative or facts

  13. Add Captions as Text Boxes

  14. Finishing Off...


  • Use the File menu to Save your project
  • Print your Comic project
  • Export in a universal image file format such as jpg png or pdf






Kiwi.png
From Polly, Omanu School

This example came from Polly from Omanu School. She attended an inspiring workshop at the Learning@Schools conference in Rotorua, led by E-Time.

The templates (and imported line drawings/images) were used as the base, then using the lettering tool and previous knowledge/learning experiences from within the class, learners positioned their words within that frame. After gaining the desired effect the "frame" was then deleted.





Notes:

# Filters are available to turn your digital images into a variety of hand drawn looking graphics to enhance the comic appearance of your work.


# Comic Life can be "Exported" as an "Image" for sharing. Choose "Jpeg" from the dropdown box so student work can be shared




How Might We Use It?

Comic-Life-Ideas.jpg

Tutorials

The best way is to get in and explore. Remember to access the HELP option if you get stuck. This may also help give you a "kick start"






Check Out Suzie's Wiki on Comic Life at http://educationalsoftware.wikispaces.com/Comic+Life It is a hugely rich resource.